Restoring phylogenetic diversity through facilitation
Phylogenetic diversity enhances ecosystem functioning but restoration ecology has not taken advantage of this knowledge. We propose plant facilitation as a mechanism to promote phylogenetic diversity in restoration practices. We planted three functionally different species (Gypsophila struthium, Sedum album, and Limonium sucronicum) in a degraded gypsum ecosystem in Spain and found that after 7 years, the species with nurse traits (G. struthium) survived longer and facilitated the establishment of new species forming phylogenetically diverse neighborhoods. These facilitation-driven phylodiverse communities may potentially produce a cascade of benefits on ecosystem functioning.
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Published: |
John Wiley & Sons
2016-07
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/141157 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004837 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100007406 |
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